Japanese civil organizations jointly held an event in Tokyo on Saturday to screen documentaries recording the crimes committed by Unit 731, the Japanese germ-warfare unit during World War II, to urge the Japanese government to reflect on its history of aggression.
Unit 731 was a top-secret biological and chemical warfare research base established in Harbin as the nerve center for Japanese biological warfare in China and Southeast Asia during World War II.
The victims, referred to in Japanese as "marutas", or wooden logs, were deliberately infected with typhus, typhoid, cholera, anthrax and plague, in addition to many other bacterial diseases, to serve the goal of perfecting biological weapons.
Two documentaries were screened during Saturday's event.
"By screening the documentaries, we want to remind people of the crimes committed by Japan during that time. This is also our original purpose of holding this event," said Wada Chiyoko, an organizer of the event.
Many attendees felt that Japan needs to make changes regarding what kind of history it teaches its young generations and how it should reflect on what it did during its war of aggression.
"I believe it is the responsibility of schools to let the younger generation understand what happened. The Japanese government should own up to these historical facts and repeatedly broadcast relevant footage, so as to let the children know the historical truth," said a participant.
Japanese civil organizations screen documentaries to remind people of Japan's war crimes
As Chinese people enjoy their week-long National Day holiday, many have flocked to the western suburb of Beijing to experience the excitement of the World Table Tennis China Smash 2024, which concluded on Sunday after eleven days of fierce competition among the world's top players.
As the premier event on the World Table Tennis circuit, this year's WTT Smash is taking place from September 26 to October 6 at Beijing's Shougang Park.
At Smash Park on the western outskirt of Beijing, table tennis enthusiasts gathered to watch live matches on a big screen while relaxing on the lawn and enjoying the cool autumn breeze.
Families and friends cheered for their favorite players, calling this one of the best ways to spend the holiday this October.
"I've been a huge fan of table tennis for many years. I watched the matches inside the venue on September 29. It's fantastic to have an event like this in Beijing during the National Day holiday. The atmosphere is amazing," said Ma Qiuyu, a resident.
The Smash Park features four main zones: outdoor competitions, interactive entertainment, brand exhibitions, and dining. DJ performances are staged during breaks between matches, adding to the festive atmosphere.
One of the highlights for many fans is the daily meet-and-greet, where star players interact with the crowd and sign autographs.
Notably, the event is held in the Ice Hockey, Short Track Speed Skating, and Figure Skating venues—facilities used during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
"I came from Qingdao with my wife and kids specifically to watch the matches. I work in architecture and urban design, so I'm really impressed with how Shougang Park has transformed from a steel factory into Winter Games venues, and now into a space for the WTT Smash," said Liu Yang, a tourist from Shandong Province.
This is the first time in over six decades that Beijing has hosted a top table tennis event under the International Table Tennis Federation. Champions will receive 2,000 world ranking points. Beijing has secured the rights to host the WTT China Smash from 2024 to 2028, all set to take place at Shougang Park, making full use of its Winter Olympics legacy.
Visitors flock to Beijing's suburb to watch World Table Tennis China Smash 2024
